Influence of biological scaffold regulation on the proliferation of chondrocytes and the repair of articular cartilage.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of hard tissue engineering scaffold (the material is β-TCP) with different micro-structures on the proliferation of chondrocytes, and the influence of its composite erythrocytes on the repair of articular cartilage defects.

METHODS: Rabbit cartilage cells were on β-TCP bioceramic scaffold with different micro-structures in vitro, the proliferation growth trend of chondrocytes within the scaffold was calculated, and a optimal micro-structure suitable for cartilage cell growth was determined. Composite chondrocytes were implanted into rabbit models of articular cartilage defects, and the repair situation was observed.

RESULTS: the bioceramic scaffold with an inner diameter of 120 μm and an aperture of 500-630 μm was suitable for the growth of cartilage cells. Scaffold loaded with second generation of cartilage cell suspension got a top histological score of 20.76±2.13, which was closely similar to that of normal cartilage.

CONCLUSION: When loaded with the second generation of cartilage cells, the β-TCP biological ceramic scaffold with a pore size of 500-630 μm, and an inner diameter of 120 μm, shows a best repairing effect on animal articular cartilage defects.